Joseph bubton



J. BURTON.

' MEANS FOR LUBRIGATING GAS METER SHAFTS.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 7, 1883.

W'nPsQ M:

Uiviren TATES Fries.

ArnNr JOSEPH BURTON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM N.MILSTED, OF BROOKLYN, AND \VILLIAM H. DOWN, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

.MEANS FOR LUBRICATING GAS-METER SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 282,610, dated August'7, 1883.

Applicationfiled June 4, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr BURTON, of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Means for Lubricating Gas-Meter Shafts, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention more particularly relates to gas-meters of the kind shownand described in Letters Patent No. 17 5, 865, granted April 11, 1876,to Charles 0. Lloyd. Meters of this class are mostly used forstation-meters or meters of large size, and the rotary drum turns upon acentral fixed or stationary shaft or rod, which connects the ends orheads of the case together. The cases are partially filled with water,and the said fixed shafts or rods not only serve .as journals orbearings on which the drums may turn, but they also serve to tietogether or brace the ends or heads of the cases and prevent the latterfrom bulging outward underthe immense weight of water often containedinthem. I

The objects of my invention are to provide for oiling the rotary drum orthe fixed shaft at i the points'where the drum rotates upon it, and

also to prevent leakage from the interior of the case into the dial-caseor dial-work case of themeter.

The invention therefore consists in the combination, with themeter-case, of a fixed shaft connecting the ends or heads thereof, andprovided with axial cavities and apertures leading therefrom to theperiphery of the shaft, a rotary drum mounted on the shaft, and pipesleading to the cavities in the shaft and serving to conduct lubricatingmaterial thereto, from whence the lubricating material can pass to theperiphery of the shaft, and so lubricate it and the portions of the hubof thedrum which have a bearing thereon. The lubricating-pipes willpreferably lead from a point above the water-line in the case, so thatthe pressure of the lubricant will overcome the pressure of the water.

The invention also consists in a novel construction and combination ofparts whereby the fixed shaft is connected with the ends or heads of thecase and the water is'prevented from getting into the dial-work case. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of a meterembodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a transversesection through the fixed shaft and the frame which connects its one endwith the 5 head or end of the case,upon a'larger scale.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in bothfigures.

A designates the cylindric part of the case,

and A A the heads or ends thereof. These parts may be constructed of anysuitable material, and are shown as connected by flangejoints,th roughwhich securing-bolts may be in serted.

\ B designates the fixed or stationary shaft,

and G designates the rotary drum, the hub portions 0 C of which are 3'ournaled upon the fixed shaft near opposite ends thereof.

Upon the inner side of the head A is secured a frame, D, throughwhichthe gas-inlet 0 pipe E enters, and which is provided with a socket, a,into which one end of the fixed shaft B is screwed. I may, if desired,make this I socket in two parts, an, like a bearing and cap, as shown inFig. 2, and may cut away a segment of the thread from end to end of thecap, as at b. I would then provide or. form the shaft with a flat placeor seat, 0, and'after screwing the shaft in and bringing it intoposition with the fiat place or seat 0, opposite the So portion 1),would drive in a key, B. The key will then hold the shaft securelyagainst turn- F designates the dial-work case upon the head A, and Gdesignates a part of the dialwork, which derives motion from a wheel,(1,. upon the hub portion 0. In the outer side of the head A, and withinthe dial-work case F, is a recess, 6, surrounded by a rabbet, f. The

end of the fixed shaft B is provided with a 0 the rabbet, and by thisconstruction water is prevented from leaking into the dial-work casefrom the interior of the meter-case. I

To provide for lubricating the fixed shaft 13,

I form in opposite endsthereof axial cavities 1' from which apertures t"lead to the periphery IOO of the shaft where it is surrounded by the hubportions 0 0 To the cavitiesi lead pipes j j,

which, as here shown, lead from reservoirs 70 for lubricating material.(Here shown as placed on top of the case of the meter.)

Water is intended to be carried in the meter up to the dotted line 00;and in order that the lubricating material can be delivered against thepressure of the water, it is of course desirable that the reservoirs 70should be above this line. I may, however, place them anywhere below thewater-line, and employ a weight, a pump, or other means 'for forcing thelubri eating material through the pipes into the cavities of the fixedshaft.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the meter-case, of a fixed shaft connecting theends or heads thereof, and provided with axial cavities and aperturesleading therefrom to the periphery of the shaft, a rotary drum mountedon said fixed shaft, and pipes leading to the cavities in the shaft, andserving to conduct lubricating material thereto, substantially asspecified.

.2. The combination, with, the meter-case partly filled with water, of afixed shaft connecting the ends or heads thereof and provided with axialcavities and apertures leading therefrom to the periphery of the shaft,a rotary drum mounted on said fixed shaft, pipes leading to the cavitiesin said shaft, and vessels for lubricating material connected with saidpipes and located above the water-line in the meter, substantially asand for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with the meter-case having at one end or head theframe or yoke D and at the. other end or head the dial-work case F, andthe recess a of the fixed shaft 13, secured at one end in the frame D,and having at .the other end the head g, contained in the recess a, andthe cap h covering said recess, substantially as herein specified.

J. BURTON.

"Witnesses FREDK. HAYNES, ED. L. MORAN.

